청말 설복성의 출사일기에 나타난 해양문명

Abstract

Focused on Xue Fu Cheng’s diary and referring to the collection of his literary works, this article reviews how the recognition of maritime defense was developed to the idea of constructing navy after he was dispatched as an ambassador as well as the characteristics of the view of the Western civilization, focused on the fundamental sciences (including marine culture), and the Overseas Chinese Policy and the Abolition of Maritime Trade Ban as a maritime policy. There is almost no report about Xue Fu Cheng’s view on the ocean. The case of Xue Fu Cheng may help to effectively understand the propagation of the Western marine culture to China as well as the modern history of China in later 19th century. Before he was dispatched as an ambassador, Xue Fu Cheng was a typical supporter of the Self-Strengthening (Yangwu) Movement and he even planned the construction of a modern navy. However, as he did not completely give up the traditional view of civilization based on the Central Chinese-Bavarian order, he considered the Westerners as those who should be instructed with the permanent ways of the ancient Chinese saints. He was an expert of the Self-Strengthening (Yangwu) Movement, especially in the ideology of maritime defense, but his assertion for innovation did not reach the level of legal reform yet. During the period of his ambassadorship, he experienced the superior aspects of the Westerners through the long-term observation of the Western world, and eventually modified his evaluation of the Western civilization. His consciousness of maritime defense was specifically developed to the idea of construction navy. For example, he presented four points of coastal defense more specifically than before: building of more batteries, preparing advanced fire arms, pooling human resources, and saving financial resources. Xue Fu Cheng asserted that the overseas Chinese people should be protected through diplomatic routes in the name of the nation by establishing consulates in the countries where Chinese people lived. During his period in office, he completely abolished the Maritime Trade Ban in August 1893 after several times of discussions with the Qing Dynasty’s administration. The Qing Dynasty abolished the Maritime Trade Ban, declared in the early stage of the dynasty, as a result of the change in the political recognition of the changing international environment. From an economic point of view, the abundant assets that the overseas Chinese people had in Southeast Asia could be helpful to the economic development in China. His biggest limit was that, although he positively accepted the material civilization of the Western world, including the warships and cannons, he was reluctant to accept the Western ideologies and cultures, whether they were religions or philosophies.